Analyzing Flyers Move Of Samuel Morin To Forward

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Samuel Morin’s move to forward gives us an idea about how the Flyers feel.

Early in 2021 the Flyers answered the question that had been burning since their playoffs ended back in September. Who will be their fourth line left wing? The answer is defensemen Sam Morin. Now if you were not paying attention and thought missed something, you didn’t.

If you thought you had been paying attention and were under the impression there were at least eight players ready to play wing on the fourth line, none of whom were named Sam Morin, you would be right. But this is the Flyers.

The fourth line is a question mark, but not in a bad way. It is not a question like “Who do we pair with Provorov?” which this Morin move speaks volumes to me about the answer. The Morin position change speaks loudly about the state of the defense in general. Plainly put, moving Morin to the wing is an insurance policy for the suspect defense.

When considering partners for Provorov it appears that the front office may have finally looked at the game film on Erik Gustafsson. Perhaps they have decided that pairing Gustafsson with Provorov will not give the same “Batman and Robin” effect that Provorov’s union with Niskanen yielded. Perhaps they thought it would be more like “Batman and Bizarro Superman”.

Pairing Gustafsson with Provorov is unwise in much the same way it was unwise to pair Provorov (puck moving defender) with Ghost (puck moving defensemen with defensive wobbles). Provorov needs a defense first player who will allow the star defensemen to play on his strong side and impact the game on the offensive end. Left winger Sam Morin maybe that defensemen.

Moving Morin to the wing is a hedge on the current NHL defense corps. The team has some concern that the defense may not be defensive enough. Ghost’s struggles have been well documented. For those unacquainted with Gustafsson, imagine a bigger stronger version of Ghost, but a version that makes bad decisions and seems completely disinterested in defending.

While Sanheim has blossomed, Phil Myers still has some zone coverage issues to iron out. Hagg and Braun were steady last year, for the most part, but are not shutdown players. Morin’s position “switch” actually provides the coaches with an in-game hedge and way to bolster the defense.

Samuel Morin, Philadelphia Flyers (Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports) /

In Moving Morin, the Flyers are Trying to Bake Their Cake and Eat it Too.

If we discuss the mechanics of hockey, a fourth line winger, that has no offensive instincts is far less of a liability than a defensemen that can’t defend. I am not trying to say to Big Sam that he has no offensive game, lest I meet him later in a dark alley. I have never seen him play the wing, but at worst he has zero. Ghost and Gustafsson both have their issues on defense. Moving Morin could be the Flyers trying to have it both ways.

In a situation where the Flyers are down a goal, that is when the fourth line has its minutes trimmed. Morin may not be able to contribute too much offensively, on the wing or otherwise, but if the Flyers are trailing, he, and the rest of the fourth line, would not be called on to play many minutes.

If Vigneault does decide to roll four lines while trailing, it is possible he double shifts a player like Voracek while Morin sits out. Having him in the lineup as a wing, in this situation, does not really hurt the team.

It is not hard to imagine if the Flyers lead by a goal in the third period and Morin starts taking regular shifts on defense while lesser defenders sit out. Just because Morin learned to play forward does not mean he forgot the position he has played over the last decade.

Having Morin on the bench, even as the 12th forward, would afford the opportunity to take the more vulnerable defensemen out of the rotation

On special teams I see a spot for Morin. I could see him as a top four penalty killing defensemen, dropping from wing to the blue line while shorthanded. This could eat up minutes that would have gone to Hagg or Braun. It also allows the Flyers to play both Ghost and Gustafsson in the same game. If the pairs for game were Provorv/Gustafsson – Sanheim/Myers – Braun/ Ghost, who kills the penalties if Provorov is the box? If Morin is playing the 12th forward role, you can spare Ghost and Gustafsson PK minutes.

On the powerplay, if the strategy is to fire pucks on net through screens and to attack and put in rebounds, Morin is built to be big and use his reach to grab rebounds. I could actually see a scenario where Morin is asked to play, and is effective, in front of the net on the power play. Sam Morin fighting JVR for powerplay time in 2021….I could see it.

As for Morin’s time on the wing at even strength, it does open possibilities. The fourth line was going to be a work in progress with many moving pieces and configurations. Bunnaman, Aube-Kubel and Morin does seem to be the makings of a physical forechecking line.

I do not expect that Morin will be asked to do much than skate into the offensive zone, hit someone, then to skate back to the defensive zone and hit someone. He is a guy I would pick to hit someone. As an added bonus, Robert Hagg and Travis Konency could pass off some of their sheriff duties to the towering Morin.

Morin’s move to wing also sends a message about what the front office sees further down the depth chart. It indicates the organization does not expect much from Mark Friedman. As a card-carrying member of the Mark Friedman Fan Club this saddens me. All Friedman does is find a way to get the job done. He is not big, and he is not flashy, and he does not seem to be in the Flyers plans.

It is unclear what this says, if anything, about the younger prospects but the Morin moves signals the Flyers don’t think Friedman, who is entering his prime, will play well enough to make the team out of camp.

Morin moving to forward says little about the Flyers crowded crop of forwards. What does do is show that the Flyers feel like there are still some large looming questions on defense. I hope that a healthy Morin is part of the answer.

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